GOLDEN MOMENTS

For years my best friend back in the UK would book the day off work and pull an all-nighter before it to watch the Oscars live from Hollywood. The time difference meant it was either that, or catch up on who won what the following day, long after the event, and she didn’t want to risk missing the live action, warts and all. Now she doesn’t have to worry. She can – like the rest of us – tune into all the backstage preparations, excitement and drama on Twitter and Instagram as Tinseltown, and all its A-listers, count down to the big moment when the winners are announced.

Ahead of this year’s Oscars, we’ve spoken to the people who live and breathe the biggest of Hollywood nights to reveal exactly what goes on in the months, weeks, days and hours leading up to the ceremony. They’ve got the low-down on page 16 on the glam-squad, designers, nutritionists and plastic surgeons all the stars swear by to make them look their best for the red carpet. We have the beauty and diet secrets of LA’s finest on page 54 and an in-depth travel feature on the City of Angels itself on page 64.

But it’s not all about the Oscars – we’ve got an exclusive interview with actress Esha Gupta, although she does have her sights firmly set on Tinseltown once she’s cracked Bollywood. Turn to page 27 to read how hard work helped her rise quickly to the top and what she has planned next after her whistle-stop tour of Dubai.

Enjoy the Oscars. Until next week,